A.05 Prisoner External Communication (National Policy)

Policy Standard

Prisoner communication is managed in a way that facilitates approved communication and restricts the likelihood of illegal activity.

Performance Standards

1. Prisoners’ rights and responsibilities in relation to external communication are explained to them as part of their induction.
2. All mail to and from a prisoner detained in a prison must be directed through the manager of the prison.
3. As far as practicable in the circumstances, officers authorised by the Prison Manager to deal with prisoner's mail must take the following considerations into account when dealing with any mail to or from a prisoner:
   • the need to protect the privacy of prisoners and their correspondents;
   • the benefits to prisoners of maintaining contact with persons and organisations outside the prison;
   • the need to maintain the security and order of the prison;
   • the need to prevent the commission of offences;
   • the need to ensure the safety of any person;
   • the need to prevent the entry of unauthorised items into the prison.
4. Other than mail between a prisoner and an Official Agency, or between a prisoner and a Member of Parliament, or mail between a prisoner and his or her Legal Adviser, all mail to or from a prisoner may be opened and its contents examined for unauthorised items, by the Prison Manager or officers authorised by the Prison Manager.
5. Mail between a prisoner and an Official Agency, or Member of Parliament or mail between a prisoner and his or her Legal Adviser is managed in accordance with the requirements (A.05.01.R1).
6. Any unauthorised item found in any mail to a prisoner may be withheld from the prisoner, with the authority of the Prison Manager.
7. A prisoner may send and receive as much mail as the prisoner wishes.
8. A stamp with the name and address of the prison is applied to the back of envelopes of prisoners’ letters.
9. Prisoners sending out mail are advised (but may not wish) to write their initials on the back of envelopes. This will allow the sender of any letters which are returned to the prison to be identified.
10. Each prison has written procedures on telephone and mail systems and maintains a record of any mail that is read, withheld or copied.
11. Mail may only be read, withheld and or copied where there is justification and in accordance with the requirements. (A.05.01.R2).
12. No prisoner at any prison may send mail to any other prisoner without first notifying their current Prison Manager of the prisoner’s intentions, and their Prison Manager will notify the intended recipient's Prison Manager.
13. Every prison has telephone facilities for prisoners to make outgoing telephone calls to approve numbers.
14. A prisoner's access to designated prisoner phones and contact phone numbers is approved by personnel designated by the Prison Manager.
15. All prisoners are issued with a PIN for the Prisoner Telephone Call Control System (PTCCS) to enable access to the global 0800/0508 telephone numbers.
16. Written notices (using (A.05.03.F2) Telephone Call Monitoring Notice) are to be prominently displayed near telephones that prisoners are authorised to use stating that their calls (other than exempt calls) will be recorded and may be monitored and stating, in general terms (as per the disclosures on the Prisoner Telephone Number Request form A.05.03.F1) the purpose for which information obtained from monitoring is used.
17. Every prisoner is entitled to make at least 1 outgoing telephone call of up to 5 minutes duration per week, in addition to any calls to an outside agency or his or her legal adviser. All telephone calls are at the prisoners expense.
18. Prisoners can make telephone calls or write and receive letters in any language but letters may be translated before distribution if there is a concern that the contents indicate a threat to safety or security of the prison or any person.
19. Media requests for access to a prisoner must be reported to the Regional Manager and the Communications Unit. (See PPM E.13 Media Communications).
20. Prisoners do not have access to facsimile machines, computer modems, computer networks, or any electronic device (other than a device used to assist with a disability) capable of:
    1. Transmitting sound, computing information, functioning as a telephone (including a cellular or mobile telephone or any other means of communication) or communicating in any other way using any technology (including telecommunications, radio-communication, internet, and broadcasting technology) or
    2. Any part of an electronic device (e.g. SIM card) regardless of whether the part is capable of any of the actions specified in (a) above; and, is detachable and may be used in other electronic communication devices and includes any device that enables or facilitates the functioning of an electronic communication device (for example, a recharger or charging device) except telephones designated for prisoners' use or where use is authorised by the Prison Manager.